THIS CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT EXAMINES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PIONEERING USE OF A COMPUTER TO ALLOCATE POLICE PATROL RESOURCES. THE ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, PROGRAM BEGAN IN THE EARLY 1960'S WITH MANUAL COLLECTION OF DATA ON FREQUENCY OF CALLS AND AREAS NEEDING GREATEST SERVICE. IN 1966 A COMPUTERIZED PATROL CAR DEPLOYMENT PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED IN TWO DISTRICTS. BY THE TIME THE PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO FOUR DISTRICTS, IN LATE 1967, SERIOUS MORALE PROBLEMS WERE DEVELOPING BECAUSE OFFICERS DID NOT LIKE THE COMPLEX SHIFT CHANGES. ALSO, THE DISTRICTS HAD PROBLEMS 'STACKING' NONURGENT CALLS, ALTHOUGH THE COMMANDERS AGREED WITH THE CONCEPT. IN 1968 THE SYSTEM WAS EXPANDED TO THE ENTIRE CITY AND CONTINUED IN PLACE UNTIL A NEW CHIEF ASSUMED COMMAND IN 1970. AT THIS TIME, USE OF THE PROGRAM WAS MADE OPTIONAL. BY 1975 ONLY ONE OF THE NINE DISTRICT CAPTAINS WAS REQUESTING COMPUTER-GENERATED RESOURCE-ALLOCATION REPORTS TO ASSIGN MANPOWER. DECLINE OF THE COMPUTER PROGRAM IS ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERAL FACTORS: (1) A CHANGE IN DEPARTMENTAL POLICY WHICH EMPHASIZED THE USE OF SPECIALIZED UNITS; (2) FAILURE TO INVOLVE RANK AND FILE PERSONNEL IN THE DESIGN OF THE PROGRAM; (3) A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MORALE RESULTING FROM THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SYSTEM AND FREQUENT CHANGES IN WATCH TIME AND BEAT CONFIGURATION; (4) CONFLICTS BETWEEN THEORIES OF POLICING HELD BY OFFICERS AND THOSE HELD BY DESIGNERS OF THE MODEL; (5) PROBLEMS RAISED BY WORKLOAD INEQUITIES; AND (6) LACK OF DEMONSTRABLE POSITIVE EFFECTS ON CRIME CONTROL. CHANGES IN DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERNS ALSO REDUCED THE ACCURACY OF THE MODEL'S PREDICTIONS. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)